The history of the Feazey family name begins after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Northampton. The name, however, derives from the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Vassy,Normandy. One of the first records of the name was Robertus Invesiatus, Lascivus which appeared in the Domesday Book[1]CITATION[CLOSE]Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) in Essex[2]CITATION[CLOSE]Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X). Other records show the name was originally De Vesci, which was a baronial name, a branch of the De Burgh family.

Feazey Early Origins

The surname Feazey was first found in Northampton where Robert de Vassy (Veci) and his brother Ivo were granted nineteen Lordships in that county and overlapping into Warwick, Lincoln, and Leicester, by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. Ivo (John) won the hand of Alda, daughter of Gilbert, Lord of Alnwick in Northumberland and the family claim considerable prominence as the Lords of Vesey from which Lords Fitzgerald and Vesei claim descent.

Feazey Spelling Variations

Feazey Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Feasey, Feasy, Fessey, Fassey, Fessys, Fressis, Veasey, Vassey, Vassy, Vesci, Vezey, Vezay, Vesey, Vessey and many more.

Feazey Early History

Feazey Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Feazey research. Another 407 words (29 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1313, 1500, 1589, 1661, 1462, 1554, 1674 and 1746 are included under the topic Early Feazey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Feazey Early Notables (pre 1700)

Feazey Early Notables (pre 1700)

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Feazey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Feazey In Ireland

Feazey In Ireland

Some of the Feazey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Feazey or a variant listed above were:

Feazey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Nathaniel Feazey settled in Somers Islands in 1662

Motto

Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Burke, Sir Bernard. Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry: Including American Families with British Ancestry. (2 Volumes). London: Burke Publishing, 1939. Print.

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The Feazey Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Feazey Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.